AS MVP Gold get premium economy on BA?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2017
Posts: 26
AS MVP Gold get premium economy on BA?
My wife will make AS MVP Gold (40k) this year and I am already regular MVP (20k). We will be going from Phoenix to Edinburgh with a 3 day stopover in London, May 2024 using miles. This will leave us on BA as it will be by far the most convenient. As a MVP Gold, will my wife be able to book us in the main cabin but get an automatic upgrade to premium economy at booking? For BA I believe they call it World Traveller+. I looked up the dollar cost difference for the May flights and the difference between the main cabin and World Traveller+ is huge.
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SEA, but up and down the coast a lot
Programs: Oceanic Airlines Gold Elite
Posts: 20,621
My wife will make AS MVP Gold (40k) this year and I am already regular MVP (20k). We will be going from Phoenix to Edinburgh with a 3 day stopover in London, May 2024 using miles. This will leave us on BA as it will be by far the most convenient. As a MVP Gold, will my wife be able to book us in the main cabin but get an automatic upgrade to premium economy at booking? For BA I believe they call it World Traveller+. I looked up the dollar cost difference for the May flights and the difference between the main cabin and World Traveller+ is huge.
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 10,906
My wife will make AS MVP Gold (40k) this year and I am already regular MVP (20k). We will be going from Phoenix to Edinburgh with a 3 day stopover in London, May 2024 using miles. This will leave us on BA as it will be by far the most convenient. As a MVP Gold, will my wife be able to book us in the main cabin but get an automatic upgrade to premium economy at booking? For BA I believe they call it World Traveller+. I looked up the dollar cost difference for the May flights and the difference between the main cabin and World Traveller+ is huge.
There is a tiny chance of an op up but you don't even have any status with BA, so realistically that tiny chance is zero.
Even on AA (which has a closer relationship with AS) you would not get upgraded on an international flight. This is just not something that's done.
A little known exception is that AA will seat their own status (EXP+) members in PE at the gate if space is available. Unfortunately it's not a published benefit and some GAs may not even know about it. But no one is doing this for people with status on a different airline.
#5
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: SAN, BOS
Programs: AS MVPG100K, BAEC Gold, Hilton Diamond, Bonvoy Plat,
Posts: 2,307
No. If you pay for economy you sit in economy.
There is a tiny chance of an op up but you don't even have any status with BA, so realistically that tiny chance is zero.
Even on AA (which has a closer relationship with AS) you would not get upgraded on an international flight. This is just not something that's done.
A little known exception is that AA will seat their own status (EXP+) members in PE at the gate if space is available. Unfortunately it's not a published benefit and some GAs may not even know about it. But no one is doing this for people with status on a different airline.
There is a tiny chance of an op up but you don't even have any status with BA, so realistically that tiny chance is zero.
Even on AA (which has a closer relationship with AS) you would not get upgraded on an international flight. This is just not something that's done.
A little known exception is that AA will seat their own status (EXP+) members in PE at the gate if space is available. Unfortunately it's not a published benefit and some GAs may not even know about it. But no one is doing this for people with status on a different airline.
#6
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: ANC
Programs: AS MVP Gold, Club 49, Silver Medallion, Global Entry, National Emerald Club, Hilton Silver
Posts: 1,514
The price difference is huge because it's an entirely separate cabin, better meals and alcohol options, and even a different seating configuration. For example, on the 777-200, World Traveller Class is 3-4-3 while World Traveller Plus is 2-4-2. The ability to select a seat in a better cabin for free, just because of status on another airline makes no sense. This isn't even possible on most domestic airlines.
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 10,906
This is pretty much the extent of the value of status when traveling internationally. Complimentary space-available upgrades are not really a thing on international routes (or even really on domestic routes for airlines outside the US), never mind if you only have mid-level status on a partner airline.
What were you expecting? When flying internationally, SOP is to buy a ticket for the class of service you want to sit in, or be ready to pay for an upgrade (either with cash, miles, cash+miles, or an upgrade instrument)
By the way, a huge portion of PHX-LHR will be OWE, due to it being a flight between an AA hub and BA's hub. Even if they did give complimentary upgrades to OW elites, OP would be lucky to be 50th on the list as MVPG.
Last edited by VegasGambler; Nov 22, 2023 at 4:38 pm
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Juneau, Alaska.
Programs: AS 75K;BA Silver;AA G;HH Dia;HY Glob
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https://www.oneworld.com/travel-benefits
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 31,203
My wife will make AS MVP Gold (40k) this year and I am already regular MVP (20k). We will be going from Phoenix to Edinburgh with a 3 day stopover in London, May 2024 using miles. This will leave us on BA as it will be by far the most convenient. As a MVP Gold, will my wife be able to book us in the main cabin but get an automatic upgrade to premium economy at booking? For BA I believe they call it World Traveller+. I looked up the dollar cost difference for the May flights and the difference between the main cabin and World Traveller+ is huge.
True, you would not get the LON-EDI flight for no additional miles if you use AA for the TATL flight; but with the savings you'd realize by avoiding the BA carrier surcharges on the PHX-LHR flight, you should be able to easily afford a cash ticket for LON-EDI. Here's one example, for travel on a Sunday in late May:
(Quoted fare includes checked baggage.)
Or, you could get yourself some BA Avios, and redeem for Reward Flight Saver awards on BA for LON-EDI.
#11
Join Date: Apr 2017
Programs: AS 100k, DL PM, New Sagaya
Posts: 1,373
In defense of OP, if one is newer to the international status options - Alaska’s use of “Premium” in Y can be a source of false hope. That said sadly the international benefits for status are limited as others have noted.
#12
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Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 31,203
Choosing AA over BA for the PHX-LHR flight would not only result in substantial cash savings and the ability to sit in MCE seats, but would also cost fewer AS miles:
#13
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Verdi, NV, SFO & Olympic (aka Squaw )Valley.
Programs: Ikon Pass Full + AS Gold + Marriott Titanium + Hilton Gold. Recovering UA Plat. LT lounge AA+DL+UA
Posts: 3,865
And remember, even if you book a business class ticket with BA they probably won’t sit you next to your wife unless you are 75k.
#14
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Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
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#15
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: ANC
Programs: AS MVP Gold, Club 49, Silver Medallion, Global Entry, National Emerald Club, Hilton Silver
Posts: 1,514